The Ultimate List of the Best Cities in the World to Visit in 2025
This is a completely independent and detailed analysis of the best cities in the world to visit as a tourist in 2024, created by travel experts.ย
Thoroughly Researched in 14 Criteria
We rate every city by 14 criteria (like sights, location, safety etc.) and present a thoroughly researched overview of the best sights of each of the followingย more than 100ย ranked cities with an individual rating for each attraction, comparable throughout all cities:
#1 Paris ๐ซ๐ท Score: 210.00
The World Capital of Culture, Art, Fashion, and Food
The cosmopolitan capital of France boasts world-class museums, iconic monuments, breathtaking architecture, and stunning parks.
Most noteworthy, the City of Love gets the highest score on our list for sights and an extremely good rating for cuisine and transport (Read more)
โญ๏ธ Highlights: Eiffel Tower 9/10 | Louvre 9/10 | Musรฉe d'Orsay 8/10
#2 Venice ๐ฎ๐น Score: 208.18 The Most Unique and Iconic City in the Worldย on 117 Islands Venice owns more than 150 canals and features some of the world's most stunning churches, palaces, museums, and bridges. Mesmerizing Venice is by far the best city worldwide in the categories of locationย andย pedestrian zonesย and possesses truly excellentย sights (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Historic City and its Lagoon 9/10 | St Mark's Basilica 9/10 | Grand Canal 8/10 #3 Rome ๐ฎ๐น Score: 206.35 A Millennium-long Center of Power, Culture, and Religion Rome has exerted a huge influence over the world and the traces of these times are still visible all over the eternal city. The Italian capital features grand romantic Roman ruins, millennium-old churches, world-class museums, and graceful fountains. Rome scores extremely high for its sights and proves to be an extremely well-balanced city (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Colosseum 9/10 | St. Peterโs Basilica 9/10 | Musei Vaticani with Sistine Chapel 8/10 #4 Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ Score: 206.35 The City of Gaudi โ a Legacy of Extraordinary Works Barcelona captivates visitors with a delightful mix of fanciful architecture, sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, fascinating museums, and immeasurable culture. Particularly noteworthy is the fantastic weather. In addition, nightlife and public transport are among the best in the world (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Church of the Sacred Family 9/10 | Casa Milร 6/10 | Palau de la Musica Catalana 6/10 #5 London ๐ฌ๐ง Score: 204.18 A Global Center of Business, Finance, and Culture In London, the United Kingdom's capital, you will find contemporary architecture alongside historic monuments, several outstanding museums, famous churches, parks, and palaces.ย As for sights โ only very few cities count as many in total โ London represents absolute world-class (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: British Museum 8/10 | National Gallery 8/10 | Tower Bridge 7/10 #6 Saint Petersburg ๐ท๐บ Score: 202.70 Home to Marvelous Museums, Palaces and Onion-Domed Cathedrals A world-class destination with excellent museums and palaces, marvelous onion-domed cathedrals, theaters, countless canals, and bridges. Saint Petersburg earns outstanding marks for its world-class attractions, vibrant nightlife, and picturesque seaside setting (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum 9/10 | Church of Savior on the Spilled Blood 9/10 | Saint Isaac's Cathedral 7/10 #7 Sydney ๐ฆ๐บ Score: 202.90 Where Urban Sophistication Meets Coastal Beauty and Cultural Diversity Sydney is a vibrant and welcoming metropolis renowned for its world-famous Opera House and the hospitable nature of its locals. Most noteworthy, the Harbour City gets one of the highest score on our list for its awe-inspiring location on Australia's eastern coast (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Sydney Opera House 9/10 | Harbour Bridge 7/10 | Sydney Harbour 7/10 #8 New York City ๐บ๐ธ Score: 200.45 The Ultimate Urban Playground of Skyscrapers, Broadway, and Cultural Fusion Renowned for its unparalleled cultural richness, iconic skyscrapers, exquisitely manicured Central Park, and distinct neighborhoods, New York City unequivocally ranks as the most captivating and multifaceted tourist spot in America. The Big Apple is scoring extremely high for its sights and offers outstanding nightlife (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Metropolitan Museum of Art 9/10 | Central Park 7/10 | Top of the Rocks Observation Deck 7/10 #9 Florence ๐ฎ๐น Score: 200.30 Home to World-famous Masterpieces of Art Florence, as the birthplace of the Renaissance, is an alluring destination with stunning architectural marvels and world-renowned masterpieces of art, including Botticelliโs "The Birth of Venus" and the iconic Duomo. The capital of Tuscany is scoring extremely high for its sights and pedestrian zones (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Uffizi Galleries 8/10 | Duomo 8/10 | Historic Center 8/10 #10 Athens ๐ฌ๐ท Score: 199.50 Step Back to the Origins of Western Civilization Beneath the Magnificent Acropolis A thriving metropolis renowned for its stunning Acropolis, Athens offers an alluring blend of sophistication, charm, cosmopolitanism, and intimate pedestrian areas. Its pedestrian-friendly zones, unique sights, and pleasant climate earn the Greek capital a high rankingย (Read more) โญ๏ธ Highlights: Acropolis 8/10 | Duomo 8/10 | National Archaeological Museum 7/10 #11 Madrid ๐ช๐ธ Score: 199.45 Discover Madrid's Artistic Splendor: From the Prado to the Royal Palace Home to a fantastic car-free center, Madrid is a very dynamic, lively, and surprisingly compact city with a welcoming atmosphere andย three world-class museums (Read more) #12 Prague ๐จ๐ฟ Score: 198.95 One of the Finest Medieval City Centers Worldwide The charming Old Town of Prague is one of the best preserved in Europe, featuring a large car-free area, charming towers, picturesque castles, and the famous Charles Bridge (Read more) #13 Vienna ๐ฆ๐น Score: 198.83 A City of Musical Legacy, Imperial Splendor, and Unmatched Livability Known for its extremely high quality of life,ย Vienna is a city of traditions with a famous musical legacy, a world heritage-listed Historic Centre, and stunning palaces (Read more) #14 Moscow ๐ท๐บย Score: 198.80 A Cosmopolitan Capital Blending Imperial Grandeur with Iconic Landmarks Moscow, the largest city entirely on the European continent, is highly cosmopolitan while still full of architectural gems from the time of the Russian Empire (Read more) #15 Berlin ๐ฉ๐ช Score: 197.58 Blending History, Culture, and Modernity Creative and vibrant Berlin possesses a lot of modern architecture like the Sony Center or the fantastic glass cupola of the Reichstag but also a few historic buildings and wonderful museums (Read more) #16 Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌ Score: 197.25 Asiaโs Stunning Gateway to the Future Singapore is easily one of the world's most modern cities where you find stunning contemporary architecture, and one of the best Zoos in the world (Read more) #17 Amsterdam ๐ณ๐ฑ Score: 197.08 A Unique City of Canals, Culture, and Charm Nicknamed โVenice of the Northโ, Amsterdam offers countless canals and bridges, two excellent museums, and a huge pedestrian zone and is known worldwide for its liberal attitudes and its vibrant nightlife (Read more) #18 Tokyo ๐ฏ๐ต Score: 197.00 The City That Combines Ancient Mystique with Neon Brilliance Tokyo is one of the busiest cities on the planet: the pace of life in the modern Japanese Capital with its skyscrapers, neon, electronics stores, large shopping complexes, and countless bars and clubs never seems to slow down (Read more) #19 Hong Kong ๐ญ๐ฐ Score: 196.08 Hong Kong Islandโs Sophistication Meets Kowloonโs Authentic Charm Hong Kong, one of the ultimate destinations for every dedicated shopping fanatic, possesses an outstanding setting with its deep natural harbor and a very impressive modern skyline and sparkles as a city that never sleeps (Read more) #20 Istanbul ๐น๐ท Score: 196.03 Bridging Continents, Cultures, and Millennia of History Wonderfully located on both sides of the Bosporus, Istanbul features numerous historic sights, most noteworthy, impressive mosques, palaces, and museums (Read more) #21 Lisbon ๐ต๐น Score: 195.98 The majestic and UNESCO-enlisted Mosteiro dos Jerรณnimos and the Torre de Belรฉm, and wonderful viewpoints all over Lisbon, especially from the St. George's Castle and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, are all part of Lisbon's colorful cityscape (Read more) #22 Shanghai ๐จ๐ณ Score: 195.50 Dynamic Shanghai delights visitors with excellent shopping, some of the world's tallest and most iconic skyscrapers, idyllic Chinese gardens, and a beautiful location (Read more) #23 Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท Score: 197.00 Seoul impressively showcases its unique blend of modernity and ancient traditions through its pedestrian-only shopping districts, well-preserved historic palaces, and culturally significant temples and shrines (Read more) #24 Budapest ๐ญ๐บ Score: 195.30 Renowned as the "City of Spas," Budapest's awe-inspiring landmarks and breathtaking architectural wonders, including the striking Hungarian Parliament (which is just as impressive on the inside), and the National Opera House, offer a glimpse into the city's rich history and cultural heritage (Read more) #25 Kyoto ๐ฏ๐ต Score: 195.00 Kyoto served as Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868 and is considered the country's cultural capital, containing an immense number of extraordinary temples, shrines, and gardensย (Read more) #26 Beijing ๐จ๐ณ Score: 194.50 The Forbidden City, with its 980 Qing dynasty buildings, may be Beijing's most crucial landmark, but the sprawling metropolis also boasts awe-inspiring modern structures. Additionally, the nearby Great Wall stands as a testament to China's rich history (Read more) #27 Rio de Janeiro ๐ง๐ท Score: 194.10 With its iconic Cristo Redentor statue presiding over the city, Rio de Janeiro is an eclectic mix of diverse urbanism, idyllic sandy beaches, verdant hills, striking colonial architecture, sleek modern skyscrapers, and impoverished shantytowns (Read more) #28 Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ Score: 192.93 Mexico City, a vital economic and cultural hub in Latin America, offers an array of tourist attractions, with the compact historic city center as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the renowned Teotihuacan archaeological complex just a short journey away (Read more) #29 Stockholm ๐ธ๐ช Score: 192.90 Stockholm's museums and cultural institutions, such as the Vasa Museum and Nobel Prize Museum, offer visitors a chance to explore the city's history and cultural heritage, while its legendary location on the water with 14 islands adds to its charm and provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities (Read more) #30 Bangkok ๐น๐ญ Score: 192.35
The Thai metropole Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities with exquisitely decorated Buddhist temples and magnificent palaces, bustling canals, modern shopping malls, and a vibrant (and naughty) nightlife (Read more) #31 Dubai ๐ฆ๐ช Score: 191.65 With a rapid transformation from a modest trading hub to a dynamic global metropolis, Dubai has now cemented its place as a hub of glitz and glamour, boasting the tallest edifice, the largest retail complex, the grandest fountain, and the most expansive natural garden (Read more) #32 Krakow ๐ต๐ฑ Score: 191.48 Explore the charming small streets of Krakow's Historic Center and visit the famous Main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), one of the largest and most beautiful town squares in the world (Read more) #33 Seville ๐ช๐ธ Score: 189.05 Southern Spain's largest city boasts a stunning Gothic cathedral that serves as Columbus' resting place, and world-class attractions such as the Real Alcazar palace and Plaza de Espaรฑa with its neo-Moorish architectureย (Read more) #34 Milan ๐ฎ๐น Score: 188.65 As one of the world's foremost fashion capitals, Milan serves as Italy's premier economic, industrial, and commercial hub, boasting an array of shopping options and a breathtaking cathedral (Read more) #35 Naples ๐ฎ๐น Score: 187.50 Located spectacularly at the scenic Bay of Naples and overshadowed by the majestic Mount Vesuvius, Italy's third-largest city is widely recognized as the birthplace of pizza (Read more) #36ย Taipei ๐น๐ผ Score: 186.93 The cosmopolitan capital of Taiwan epitomizes Asia's greatness with its unmatched shopping options, delectable cuisine, awe-inspiring skyscrapers, museums, temples, and breathtaking parksย (Read more) #37ย Copenhagen ๐ฉ๐ฐ Score: 186.80 Renowned as a paragon of urban planning, Copenhagen allures visitors with its strikingly divergent architectural designs and one-of-a-kind, vibrant yet serenely tranquil ambiance (Read more) #38ย Cairo ๐ช๐ฌ Score: 186.78 Cairo, a captivating megacity, sits on the Nile's banks as a gateway to the stunning pyramids of Giza, featuring the exceptional Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which will soon be supplemented by the new Grand Egyptian Museumย (Read more) #39ย Buenosย Aires ๐ฆ๐ท Score: 185.10 Buenos Aires, the birthplace of the tango, is a mosaic of diverse neighborhoods. From remarkable museums to bustling markets, historic cafรฉs, elegant restaurants, and glamorous bars, the seductive capital of Argentina bustles with activity, including festivals and a thriving nightlifeย (Read more) #40 Melbourne ๐ฆ๐บ Score: 184.95 Melbourne is a lovely and laid-back city with something for everyone, including local and international art, multicultural dining, Australian and Aboriginal history, and a lively nightlife scene (Read more) #41 Munich ๐ฉ๐ช Score: 183.73 Most of Munich's beautiful walkable historic center, as well as many of its historic buildings (including the Frauenkirche, the famous city hall, and the Residenz), have been carefully rebuilt after the second world war (Read more) #42ย Hanoi ๐ป๐ณ Score: 183.35 Amidst vestiges of its French colonial past, Hanoi boasts over six hundred exquisitely restored temples and pagodas, along with picturesque lakes and verdant parks, all steeped in the rich traditions of Vietnamย (Read more) #43 Kuala Lumpur ๐ฒ๐พ Score: 183.32 Kuala Lumpur has achieved remarkable growth in just 150 years, emerging as a thriving metropolis with a distinct identity across its diverse districts. The iconic Petronas Twin Towers remain a symbol of the city's remarkable evolution (Read more) #44 Valencia ๐ช๐ธ Score: 182.70 While Valencia contains many historic monuments and fine beaches its highlight is without doubt the modern City of Arts and Sciences, a futuristic complex, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Fรฉlix Candelaย (Read more) #45ย Capeย Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ Score: 182.70 The stunning setting of Cape Town is unequivocally defined by the imposing Table Mountain at its foot, and the sheltered bay with its long sandy beaches and icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the southernmost corner of the African continent (Read more) #46 Kathmandu ๐ณ๐ต Score: 182.40 Located 1300 meters high, the fascinating capital of Nepal isย home to no less than four UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Read more) #47 Edinburgh ๐ฌ๐ง Score: 181.80 Edinburgh features two contrasting parts: the medieval Old Town atop a rocky outcrop and the Georgian New Town below, both listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 (Read more) #48 Lyon ๐ซ๐ท Score: 181.75 The underrated city of Lyon is Franceโs third-largest city, the countryโs gastronomical capital, and home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Read more) #49 Bucharest ๐ท๐ด Score: 182.95 Great Nightlife, Communist-Era Relics, Stunning Parks, and Palatial Wonders Bucharest offers an interesting and unique mix of impressive communist-era buildings (such as the gigantic Palace of Parliament or the opulent Ceauศescu Villa), beautiful parks, great museums, impressive Beaux-Arts-style palaces, and extremely vibrant nightlifeย (Read more)
#50 Isfahan ๐ฎ๐ท Score: 181.2 #51 Palermo ๐ฎ๐น Score: 180.95 #52 Brussels ๐ง๐ช Score: 180.85 #53 Oslo ๐ณ๐ด Score: 180.58 #54 Osaka ๐ฏ๐ต Score: 180.10 #55 Helsinki ๐ซ๐ฎ Score: 179.88 #56 Abu Dhabi ๐ฆ๐ช Score: 179.80 #57 Cordoba ๐ช๐ธ Score: 179.40 #58 Nice ๐ซ๐ท Score: 179.38 #59 Chicago ๐บ๐ธ Score: 179.35 #60 Tallinn ๐ช๐ช Score: 179.30 #61 Hamburg ๐ฉ๐ช Score: 179.23 #62 Genoa ๐ฎ๐น Score: 179.08 #63 Baku ๐ฆ๐ฟ Score: 179.00 #64 Warsaw ๐ต๐ฑ Score: 179.00 #65 Cusco ๐ต๐ช Score: 178.75 #66 Delhi ๐ฎ๐ณ Score: 178.33 #67 Marrakesh ๐ฒ๐ฆ Score: 178.15 #68 Granada ๐ช๐ธ Score: 178.10 #69 Havana ๐จ๐บ Score: 178.05 #70 Bilbao ๐ช๐ธ Score: 177.90 #71 Dublin ๐ฎ๐ช Score: 177.53 #72 Bordeaux ๐ซ๐ท Score: 177.38 #73 Antwerp ๐ง๐ช Score: 177.20 #74 Bologna ๐ฎ๐น Score: 177.03 #75 Dubrovnik ๐ญ๐ท Score: 176.95 #76 Salzburg ๐ฆ๐น Score: 176.88 #77 Siem Reap ๐ฐ๐ญ Score: 176.85 #78 Macau ๐ฒ๐ด Score: 176.61 #79 Porto ๐ต๐น Score: 176.50 #80 Rotterdam ๐ณ๐ฑ Score: 176.45 #81 Valletta ๐ฒ๐น Score: 176.40 #82 Split ๐ญ๐ท Score: 176.33 #83 Montrรฉal ๐จ๐ฆ Score: 176.30 #84 Toronto ๐จ๐ฆ Score: 176.25 #85 Gdansk ๐ต๐ฑ Score: 176.13 #86 Strasbourg ๐ซ๐ท Score: 176.13 #87 Dresden ๐ฉ๐ช Score: 176.13 #88 Ghent ๐ง๐ช Score: 176.10 #89 Thessaloniki ๐ฌ๐ท Score: 176.10 #90 Vancouver ๐จ๐ฆ Score: 176.00 #91 Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ Score: 175.98 #92 Lucerne ๐จ๐ญ Score: 175.95 #93 Ho Chi Minh City ๐ป๐ณ Score: 175.95 #94 Lima ๐ต๐ช Score: 175.90 #95 Bruges ๐ง๐ช Score: 175.80 #96 Mumbai ๐ฎ๐ณ Score: 175.70 #97 Toulouse ๐ซ๐ท Score: 175.60 #98 Riga ๐ฑ๐ป Score: 175.55 #99 Santiago de Chile ๐จ๐ฑ Score: 175.40 #100 Zรผrich ๐จ๐ญ Score: 175.30 #101 Turin ๐ฎ๐น Score: 175.23 #102 Phnom Penh ๐ฐ๐ญ Score: 175.15 #103 The Hague ๐ณ๐ฑ Score: 175.00 #104 San Sebastian ๐ช๐ธ Score: 174.90 #105 Verona ๐ฎ๐น Score: 174.88 #106 Palma ๐ช๐ธ Score: 174.80 #107 Sarajevo ๐ง๐ฆ Score: 174.78 #108 Ljubljana ๐ธ๐ฎ Score: 174.60 #109 Jerusalem ๐ฎ๐ฑ Score: 174.60 (๐ฃ) #110 Malaga ๐ช๐ธ Score: 174.55 #111 Marseille ๐ซ๐ท Score: 174.55 #112 Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ Score: 174.55 #113 Glasgow ๐ฌ๐ง๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Score: 174.25 #114 Chongqing ๐จ๐ณ Score: 173.60 #115 Boston ๐บ๐ธ Score: 173.95 #116 Vilnius ๐ฑ๐น 173.75 #117 Luxor ๐ช๐ฌ 173.70 #118 Auckland ๐ณ๐ฟ Score: 173.63 #123 Innsbruck ๐ฆ๐น 173.23 #125 Doha ๐ฆ๐ช Score: 173.00 #128 Lhasa ๐ฎ๐ธ Score: 172.80 #135 Bern ๐จ๐ญ Score: 172.48 #136 Las Vegas ๐บ๐ธ Score: 172.33 #143 Reykjavik ๐ฎ๐ธ Score: 172.03 #145 Manchester ๐ฌ๐ง Score: 172.00 #146 San Francisco ๐บ๐ธ Score: 171.75
Sortable Ranking of the Best 150 Cities in 14 Criteria for City Comparison
You can easily identify the strengths and weaknesses of a destination in the score sheet of each city as well as in our sortable list of the best 150 cities in the world in 2025.
Bonus Lists
Rating cities over the years, we compared many different sights to obtain coherent ratings. As a result of this work, we present a list of the best aquariums in the world in 2025 as well as our selection of the best museums in the world in 2025.
We also created a video of the best 50 cities in the world to visit in 2025 (ranked by 14 criteria), thank you for watching and sharing!